Developmental Coordination Disorder
NURTURE INFORMATION HUB
Developmental Coordination Disorder also known as Dyspraxia
Evidence
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21900828/
Developmental Coordination Disorder in school aged children born very pre term and/or at very low birthweight – A Systematic Review
Jessica Edwards 1, Michelle Berube, Kelcey Erlandson, Stephanie Haug, Heather Johnstone, Meghan Meagher, Shirley Sarkodee-Adoo, Jill G Zwicker
Researchers still do not know the exact cause of DCD or why some children develop it and others do not. There have been many studies done on the relationship between prematurity and DCD. In all of the studies, DCD has been found to occur more often in babies that are born very early or have a low-birth weight. It is important that children who were born prematurely are identified if they are experiencing developmental delays or signs of DCD. Children with DCD should have access to therapies and early intervention to support their development.
Education
What is Developmental Coordination Disorder?
Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a motor disorder that affects how children move and coordinate their movements. It is estimated that this disorder affects approximately 5% of children, and the prevalence is higher amongst children who were born preterm. Every individual with DCD may experience difficulties in different ways. These difficulties may impact on participation in everyday life skills including in education, and everyday activities.
A diagnosis of DCD is sometimes missed in children, with parents attributing the symptoms to clumsiness or just not being good at physical activity. Some people do not receive a diagnosis until the high school years, or even later in life. Adolescents with DCD may have difficulty playing team sports, getting dressed, eating, and learning to drive. They are often slower at completing tasks and may get tired more easily.
Studies involving school-aged children showed increased numbers of DCD among children who had very low birth weights below 1500 g or were very preterm under 32 weeks than among age children born at term with normal birth weights. This means not all babies born very small and very early will have this problem but within the numbers of children that have this problem an increase prevalence was born early and small for gestation
DSM-5 classifies DCD as a motor disorder under the broader heading of neurodevelopmental disorders. The DSM-5 criteria for DCD are as follows:
- Acquisition and execution of coordinated motor skills are below what would be expected at a given chronologic age and opportunity for skill learning and use; difficulties are manifested as clumsiness (eg, dropping or bumping into objects) and as slowness and inaccuracy of performance of motor skills (eg, catching an object, using scissors, handwriting, riding a bike, or participating in sports)
- The motor skills deficit significantly or persistently interferes with activities of daily living appropriate to the chronologic age (eg, self-care and self-maintenance) and impacts academic/school productivity, prevocational and vocational activities, leisure, and play
- The onset of symptoms is in the early developmental period
- The motor skills deficits cannot be better explained by intellectual disability or visual impairment and are not attributable to a neurologic condition affecting movement (eg, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or a degenerative disorder)
Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a condition that needs to be managed over the course of a lifetime. The challenges in this disorder make it hard for teenagers to preform motor skills and coordination. It’s not a learning disorder, but it can impact learning. Teens with DCD struggle with physical tasks and activities and they need to do both in and out of school
Difficulties Experienced by Older Children and Teenagers
Teenage years can be exciting and challenging at the same time in any child’s life and when there is a child with special needs adjustments are needed to build confidence and find their niche’ in the fast-paced years.
Teenagers with DCD can find it challenging educationally, emotionally and physically to keep up with their peers and they will be under greater pressure now to ‘be cool’ and to respond in a more mature way.
They may even feel that their teachers and parents don’t understand them and are not helping them. Their frustration may now be displayed as disruptive behaviour both at home and school.
Changes in Teenagers with DCD
The Teen with Developmental Co-ordination Disorder difficulties (or DCD) will have a bit longer than the three to four weeks that it will take for teen with no special needs to settle into their surroundings and what is required of them. It’s common to have a teenager that will need reassurance and reviewing of the same tasks over a much greater period of time. They may still be getting lost and forgetful with homework, teachers names, class locations and where they are supposed to be and when, probably for a few months.
When a teenager with DCD moves up to high school it may help show their social strengths and weaknesses, as they are now the youngest in the school. Difficulties in keeping up with their peer group will now become more and more obvious and they are at risk of becoming isolated.
Teenagers may benefit from being able to talk about their condition and to implement their own strategies about how to respond to challenges. One approach which has been suggested is called the MATCH Strategy:
- Modify the task- (eg. Where slip on shoes instead of shoes with laces)
- Alter your expectations (be realistic in setting expectations for yourself- for example giving yourself extra time to do something
- Try new strategies
- Change the environment (find a less distracting environment if that helps)
- Help yourself and others to understand. Understanding your condition means that you can advocate for the support that you need. You can also tell people about how they can help you.
What conditions may coexist with the disorder?
Teenagers who have developmental coordination disorder frequently have other childhood disorders like for example; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder/ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder or specific learning disabilities and teenagers with developmental coordination disorder (with or without ADHD) have been found to be at increased risk of anxiety and depression.
Other problems commonly associated with DCD are psychosocial difficulties like weight gain, physical fitness, difficulty in activities of daily-living, physical and social activities.
Empowerment
Management strategies that support the Teen with DCD
- Provide opportunities to succeed by making activities simpler.
- Encouragement to persist and attempt tasks.
- Teach new skills in a step-by-step manner and keep the environment as predictable as possible during teaching.
- Introduce new skills or environments on an individual basis before introducing peers.
- Use simple language and instructions.
- Provide visual as well as verbal cues.
- Provide extra time to complete tasks.
- Recognise and reinforce the teens strengths.
- Appropriate set up for school desk.
- Set realistic and achievable goals for all task performance and completion.
- Make participation, not competition, the goal.
Ways to Help Parents
Access information about the disorder and its symptoms.
Communicate the way your teenager’s challenges may appear to all people involved in the child’s care.
Possibly interpret certain behaviours differently in light of the diagnosis.
Obtain information about what can be done to help the teenager.
Determine specifically where and how to help the teenager.
Access funding or services that might not otherwise be accessible.
Here are some of the ways that teens are screened for DCD
- Was your teenager born preterm? How early?
- Your teenager’s birth weight
- At what age did your teenager first walk independently?
- Concerned about the “clumsiness”
- Teenager has difficulty in these tasks, such as dressing (including buttoning shirts and tying shoelaces), brushing teeth, and using a knife and fork when eating
- Teenager has difficulty with activities such as handwriting, printing, or cutting with scissors…
- Teenager also has trouble with throwing or kicking a ball, competing in team sports at school or in the community, or participating successfully in physical education classes?
DCD awareness week October 6-11 2021
Useful websites and resources:
https://canchild.ca/en/resources/114-developmental-coordination-disorder-what-does-it-mean-to-me
https://canchild.ca/en/diagnoses/developmental-coordination-disorder/related_resources
https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/a-z-health-reference/development-coordination-disorder-dcd
https://drkamps.ca/what-is-dcd
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Disclaimer: This publication by Miracle Babies Foundation is intended solely for general education and assistance and it is it is not medical advice or a healthcare recommendation. It should not be used for the purpose of medical diagnosis or treatment for any individual condition. This publication has been developed by our Parent Advisory Team (all who are parents of premature and sick babies) and has been reviewed and approved by a Clinical Advisory Team. This publication is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Miracle Babies Foundation recommends that professional medical advice and services be sought out from a qualified healthcare provider familiar with your personal circumstances.To the extent permitted by law, Miracle Babies Foundation excludes and disclaims any liability of any kind (directly or indirectly arising) to any reader of this publication who acts or does not act in reliance wholly or partly on the content of this general publication. If you would like to provide any feedback on the information please email [email protected].
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